Durham is a 300-km2 city in the State of North Carolina, United States. Since its establishment in 1853, it has grown from a small village with fewer than 100 people into the fourth most populous city in North Carolina, ranking the 74th nationwide.
In its early years, Durham thrived from the tobacco industry and was renowned as a tobacco hub. Over time, the city grew and attracted many other flourishing industries. In 1959, the Research Triangle Park was established by the State of North Carolina alongside local governments, nearby universities, and business entities. As one of the most prominent high-tech research parks in the United States, this park, sprawling over 28 km2 in the Triangle Region between Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, hosts over 200 pioneering tech companies and 46,000 high-caliber professionals in biotechnology, life sciences, information technology, pharmaceuticals, and medicine. Today, healthcare is the dominant local industry and Durham is considered the City of Medicine supported by its 300+ healthcare-related companies and institutions within the area.
As one of the celebrated college towns on the eastern coast of the United States, Durham boasts abundant educational resources. In addition to esteemed private institutions such as Duke University and North Carolina Central University, the city houses Durham Technical Community College, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, and Durham Public Schools, the eighth largest school district in North Carolina.
Durham is also a city of cultural diversity. It hosts the annual Bull Durham Blues Festival and presents Broadway classics all year round at the Durham Performing Arts Center. The city is packed with various jazz festivals, theatrical performances, symphony concerts, art exhibitions, and numerous cultural events.
In November 2024, Kunshan and Durham forged their sister-city relationship.
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